Next up on Blast From the Past, this man is a two time Super Bowl champion, winning in 2007 and 2011. In 2003, he was a BCS National Champion. He came from LSU, a program known for sending extremely talented cornerbacks into the NFL. He burst onto the scene during the 2007 Super Bowl run, where he picked off the last pass of Brett Favre’s storied Green Bay Packers career. Never receiving any Pro Bowl nods, this man still was one of the premier cornerbacks in the league. His ability to lock up a team’s number one receiver was on par with all of the dominant cornerbacks during this time period. Corey Webster will go down in New York Giants history as one of their best, if not the best, cornerbacks.
Blast From the Past: Corey Webster Edition
Corey Webster was drafted in the second round of the 2005 NFL Draft by the New York Giants after a phenomenal collegiate career which saw him win a BCS National Title. It took him a few years, but once he adjusted to the NFL, he was a person quarterbacks feared. He found his footing towards the end of the 2007 season, where he finally lived up to his potential and starting shutting down number one receivers. After his second half breakout, he followed it up with an outstanding 2008 season; one that saw him lead the team in passes deflected by a large margin. He also tied for the most passes deflected in the entire NFL with 24, also having 48 tackles, one sack and three interceptions. When in his prime and healthy, he averaged between 12 to 24 pass deflections, 40-50 tackles, and three or four interceptions. These quality numbers place him as one of the all time greats for the New York Giants.
Underrated and Undervalued
For his Giants career, Corey Webster has 20 interceptions, 98 passes deflected, seven forced fumbles, and 330 tackles. The 98 pass deflections places him at the top of the list for most in Giants history, an astonishing 29 more than the second place finisher. His numbers do not do him justice. Watching game film and seeing him dominate on the defensive side truly shows how crucial he was. If one were to watch a highlight film of Corey Webster, a common theme is that he was always locked in coverage with the best. Whether it was Brandon Marshall, DeSean Jackson, Steve Smith, Terrell Owens, or Santana Moss, he never backed down from a challenge and always stepped up to the task at hand. One particular event that shows the mental toughness of Webster was during a game against the Green Bay Packers. Aaron Rodgers had just connected on a 61-yard touchdown with receiver Jordy Nelson at the expense of Webster, since he was in coverage. Instead of backing down and playing more timidly on the next drive, he watched Rodgers and saw him looking towards the underneath route. Knowing he had safety help over the top, he converged on an open Randall Cobb and jumped the route, securing an interception. He never backed down to any challenge, and his intelligence and play-making ability was always on display.
Comparison to Current Player
One player who closely resembles Corey Webster is Vontae Davis. Unlike Webster, Davis started contributing from day one. However, his production numbers resemble those of Webster’s. He ranges from 12-27 passes deflected, averages in the mid 40s for tackles per year, and around three or four interceptions per year. Just like Webster, he is always locked up with the number one receiver. Vontae Davis is a player who is patient, doesn’t make irrational decisions, and uses his head to get inside the head of the quarterback in order to make a big play. He has the closing speed to keep a receiver in check and the knowledge to put himself in the right place in the right time.
Corey Webster played with an edge that was unmatched during his prime. He always covered the number one receiver and never garnished any recognition outside of the Big Blue Loyal. The case can be made for him to go down as the one of the best defensive backs in Giants history. His knack for big plays allowed him to play aggressively while his on field IQ made sure his aggressive play was never careless.
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